Hutchison unit to provide global service for Google’s Project Fi

Hutchison’s Three to provide international LTE connections for US customers of Google’s Project Fi mobile service.

Google has signed up with CK Hutchison’s Three Group to provide 4G international data coverage for its Project Fi mobile phone service.

Project Fi, launched in 2015 with US coverage provided by SoftBank’s Sprint and Deutsche Telekom’s T-Mobile US, will use Hue, Three’s mobile connectivity provider, for some of its connections in Europe and Asia.

Jarrod Nink, CEO of Hue, said: “Three Group’s investment in robust networks and Hue’s ability to offer the latest LTE technology in an innovative and flexible way is the ideal match for Project Fi’s exciting wireless service. Hue is delighted to have been chosen as one of the international connectivity partners supporting Project Fi.”

Nink, an Australian lawyer, has worked in the mobile industry since 2004, when he joined Hutchison. He was general manager for wholesale at Vodafone Australia – which has been a joint venture with Hutchison since 2009 – and came to the UK in 2013 to be CEO of Hutchison Global Enabling Services.

Project Fi has not announced any other international partners, though it promises its US customers “high speed data in over 135+ countries and destinations for the same $10/GB you pay in the US”.

The company charges $0.20 per minute for voice calls using cellular coverage, and typically much less for calls made using Wifi. Calls to the US from international destinations using Wifi are normally free.